Switch in supply: Fishermen showing their catch of prawns to be sold at the Pasar Bisik-Bisik in Penaga, Penang. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/ The Star
KEPALA BATAS: Once a popular market known for its bidding style in hushed tones, things seem to have quietened down at the Pasar Bisik-Bisik (Whispering Market) during this colder time of the year.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The supply of prawns has gone up, with local fishermen bringing in a fresher catch than expected.
One of them, Azizi Abu Hassan, 52, said that while their fish hauls have sharply declined, there has been an unexpected rise in prawns brought in.
He said fish are harder to catch now, especially during the northeast monsoon.
“When the water clears up, it makes prawns easier to target as they tend to swim in schools near the ocean floor.
“But with increased visibility, fish can easily spot our nets, causing them to avoid the areas where they are usually caught.
“As a result, our fish yields have dropped a lot,” he explained.
Azizi said many fishermen, including himself, have shifted to prawn fishing for now.
However, the abundance of prawns has not fully compensated for the loss in fish, he added.
“The change has helped, but it has not been enough to make up for the reduced income from fish.
“Those relying only on catching fish as their primary source of income are getting considerably lower earnings,” he said.
Seasoned fisherman Sulong Mat, 67, when met at Pasar Bisik-Bisik on Wednesday, said: “We have to go further out to sea to find fish. More often than not, we come back with little to show for our efforts.”
Several other fishermen at the market also said that stocks of popular fish species, such as mackerel, pomfret and “kembong” (Indian mackerel), have declined.
Zulkifli Hussin, 62, said the erratic weather – ranging from heavy storms to prolonged dry spells – has severely disrupted their usual fishing cycles.
“The unpredictable conditions are pushing fish further away from our traditional spots.
“It has become much harder to predict where we can find them, and this often delays our trips.
“With the beginning of the northeast monsoon now, it is tough, especially for those who depend solely on income from the sea,” he said.
He added that he and other fishermen in Kuala Muda have seen their income drop by over 50% in recent months.
Young fishermen like Mohd Nor Asmawi Nor Abidin, 29, are using smartphone weather forecasts to navigate the unpredictable conditions at sea.
“We are using technology to complement traditional methods to plan our trips.
“It’s easy, convenient and particularly useful during the monsoon period,” he said.
However, he said the increasingly erratic weather has made it difficult to plan trips.
“In the past, fishermen in Kuala Muda could plan their outings based on the predictable monsoon seasons.
“But now, the weather changes so quickly that we often return empty-handed, even after long hours at sea,” he lamented.
The northeast monsoon phase is expected to continue until March next year.
